Dragon Bridge fire show timings are simple: the dragon on Dragon Bridge in Da Nang breathes fire at 9:00 PM every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and on major holidays, then sprays water. Dragon Bridge is a 666-metre steel bridge across the Han River and the world’s largest dragon-shaped steel bridge. It opened on 29 March 2013 at a cost of about 1.5 trillion VND (US$88 million). The show is free and lasts about 15 minutes, according to the bridge operator. Hoi An sits about 30 km away, a 45–60 minute drive, so the show fits easily into a 5-to-7-day Central Vietnam trip.
The table below sums up the Dragon Bridge fire show schedule and timings for 2026.
| Detail | Dragon Bridge fire show |
|---|---|
| Show days | Friday, Saturday, Sunday and major holidays |
| Show time | 9:00 PM |
| Fire | 2 rounds of 9 bursts, about 2 minutes |
| Water | About 3 minutes, after the fire |
| Total length | About 15 minutes |
| Ticket price | Free, no ticket or booking |
| Closest view of the fire | East bank, Tran Hung Dao Street, facing the dragon’s head |
| Arrive by | 8:00–8:30 PM on Saturday and holidays |
| Extra show nights in 2026 | Tet: 13–22 February; National Day: 28 August–2 September |
Monday to Thursday has no fire show, but the LED lights along Dragon Bridge still change colour every night.
This guide covers the fire show schedule, the 5 best viewing and photo spots, entry details, how to get there from Hoi An and Da Nang Airport, the best months to visit, Han River cruises, nearby attractions, and how Dragon Bridge fits into a 5-day Central Vietnam itinerary.
Dragon Bridge Da Nang Fire Show
The Dragon Bridge fire show starts at 9:00 PM every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and on major Vietnamese holidays, and the full fire and water show lasts about 15 minutes. Entry is free, with no ticket or booking. The dragon’s head first breathes fire in 2 rounds of 9 bursts, which takes about 2 minutes, and then sprays water for about 3 minutes, according to Da Nang’s official tourism portal. The bridge operator, Da Nang Bridge and Road Joint Stock Company, puts the whole sequence at about 15 minutes, so guides that list a show running until 9:30 PM overstate it.
There is no fire show from Monday to Thursday. A Da Nang stay therefore needs at least one Friday, Saturday or Sunday night to include the 9:00 PM show time.
The fire always comes first, so arriving even a few minutes after 9:00 PM can mean seeing only the water. Traffic on Dragon Bridge stops while the show runs, and the riverbanks fill from around 8:00 PM on Saturday. Arriving by 8:00–8:30 PM secures a riverside spot facing the dragon’s head on all three show nights.
Does the Dragon Bridge Fire Show Run on Public Holidays in Vietnam?
Yes, the Dragon Bridge fire show runs on major Vietnamese holidays at the same 9:00 PM start, and Da Nang adds extra show nights around Tet and National Day. For Tet 2026, the dragon breathed fire and water every night from 13 to 22 February, with only a water display at midnight on New Year’s Eve. For National Day 2026, the city held shows on 6 nights in a row, from 28 August to 2 September. Holiday show timings are announced a few days to a few weeks ahead, so dates for 2027 holidays are best checked on the Da Nang Fantasticity tourism portal before travel.
The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) is a separate event on the Han River, and the 2026 edition ran from 30 May to 11 July with 6 competition nights. DIFF nights bring the biggest crowds of the year to the riverside around Dragon Bridge, and the city can adjust the dragon show around the fireworks programme.
Which Night Is the Dragon Bridge Fire Show Least Crowded?
Friday is usually the least crowded Dragon Bridge fire show night, while Saturday draws the largest crowd. Saturday brings weekend visitors from across Da Nang and nearby areas, and Sunday sits between the two. A Friday arrival in Da Nang catches a calmer show with easier riverside access, and it leaves Saturday and Sunday free for Ba Na Hills and Hoi An day trips.
5 Best Spots to Watch and Photograph Dragon Bridge Da Nang
The 5 best spots to watch and photograph Dragon Bridge are the east bank on Tran Hung Dao Street, the Bach Dang Street promenade, a Han River cruise, the Sky36 rooftop bar at Novotel Danang Premier Han River, and Love Bridge with the Carp-Dragon statue. The dragon’s head sits at the eastern end of the bridge, so the east bank gives the closest view of the flames. The west bank shows the full side profile of the bridge and its reflection. The 5 spots below are listed by the kind of view each one gives.
- East bank, Tran Hung Dao Street — The closest, most direct view of the dragon’s head during the fire show, with riverside cafés just north of the bridge. This is the busiest stretch on show nights, so arrive by 8:00 PM on Saturday.
- Bach Dang Street promenade (west bank) — The full side profile of the 666 m bridge and its reflection in the river. Best at blue hour; the flames look smaller from this side because the head points away towards the sea.
- Han River cruise — Show-night sailings wait on the river near the bridge before 9:00 PM, giving a view of the whole span and the fire from the water.
- Sky36, Novotel Danang Premier Han River — An elevated view of the bridge and the Da Nang skyline from a rooftop bar on Bach Dang Street, north of the bridge.
- Love Bridge and the Carp-Dragon statue — On the east bank, a short walk north of the dragon’s head, where the statue frames the bridge and sprays water in the evening.
When Is the Best Time of Day to Photograph Dragon Bridge Da Nang?
The best times to photograph Dragon Bridge are blue hour, the 30 minutes or so after sunset, and 9:00 PM sharp for the fire. In Da Nang, blue hour falls between about 5:30 and 7:00 PM depending on the month, and it suits shots of the LED lights against a coloured sky. The fire calls for a spot on the east bank before 8:30 PM, because the riverside facing the dragon’s head fills quickly on Friday and Saturday show nights.
What Camera Settings Work Best for Dragon Bridge Night Photography?
For fire-action shots of the dragon’s head, use ISO 800 to 1,600 with a shutter speed of 1/250s or faster to freeze the flames mid-burst. For long-exposure reflection shots from the riverbank, use ISO 200, f/8 and a shutter speed of 10 to 25 seconds on a tripod. Each fire burst lasts only a moment, so burst mode or video catches the flames more reliably than single shots. Smartphone users can switch on Night Mode and brace the phone against the riverside railing to steady reflection shots across the Han River.
Dragon Bridge Entry Fee and Essential Visitor Information for 2026
Dragon Bridge is free to visit and free to watch, with no ticket, booking or registration, and the bridge is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Six details cover most visits in 2026: the address, opening hours, the fire show schedule, parking, the nearest landmark and evening weather.
Searches for Dragon Bridge fire show tickets often show prices in rupees. Those prices belong to Han River cruises, city tours and other paid activities sold around the bridge, not to the show itself. The fire show has never charged admission, and the Ba Na Hills cable car ticket for the Golden Bridge is a separate attraction about 25 km from the city.
Essential Dragon Bridge visitor information for 2026:
- Address: Cau Rong (Dragon Bridge), An Hai Ward, Da Nang. Older addresses use An Hai Bac Ward, Son Tra District, the names in place before Da Nang’s ward reorganisation on 1 July 2025.
- Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, to cars, motorbikes and pedestrians.
- Fire show schedule: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM, for about 15 minutes, plus major holidays. No show from Monday to Thursday.
- Parking: Paid motorbike and car parking along Bach Dang and Tran Hung Dao streets. On show nights, a Grab drop-off is easier than finding a space.
- Nearest landmark: Han Market, about 1 km north on the west bank.
- Evening weather: The river breeze makes evenings by the bridge feel cooler, so a light layer helps from December to February.
How to Get to Dragon Bridge Da Nang
Dragon Bridge is about 10–20 minutes by Grab from Da Nang Airport and 45–60 minutes by car from Hoi An, with drop-off at the east end on Tran Hung Dao Street or the west end on Bach Dang Street. A Grab car or a private transfer is the practical way to reach the show, since the evening return trip runs late.
The map below marks Dragon Bridge on the Han River, between Bach Dang Street on the west bank and Tran Hung Dao Street on the east bank.
How to Get to Dragon Bridge from Hoi An
The easiest way from Hoi An to Dragon Bridge is a Grab car or a pre-booked private car, which takes 45–60 minutes. A 4-seat Grab car costs about 387,000 VND (₹1,420) one way, and a 7-seat car about 472,000 VND (₹1,730). Fares rise at peak hours and in the rain, and the app shows the fare before each booking. Leaving Hoi An by 7:30 PM reaches the riverside by about 8:30 PM, in time to find a spot before the 9:00 PM show time.
Hoi An has been part of Da Nang city since 1 July 2025, when Da Nang merged with Quang Nam province, but the drive to Dragon Bridge has not changed. The return drive takes the same 45–60 minutes after the show ends.
How to Get to Dragon Bridge from Da Nang Airport
Dragon Bridge is about 10–20 minutes from Da Nang International Airport by Grab, at about 80,000–100,000 VND (₹295–₹365) for a 4-seat car. Grab cars pick up outside the arrivals hall after baggage claim. A flight that lands by about 8:00 PM on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday still leaves time to reach the riverside for the 9:00 PM show.
Best Time to Visit Dragon Bridge Da Nang
February to May is the best time to visit Dragon Bridge Da Nang, with dry, warm evenings and clear skies for photos of the 9:00 PM fire show. June to August stays mostly dry but is hotter and busier, and the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival fills the riverside in June and early July. September to December is Da Nang’s rainy season, when heavy rain and storms can spoil an evening by the river. The weekly Dragon Bridge show timings stay the same all year.
Holi in March falls in the dry season, with clear evenings for photos of the fire. Diwali in October or November falls in the rainy season, when storms can call off the show at short notice and flights into Da Nang face more disruption. Travellers on a Diwali break often do better with Phu Quoc or Hanoi on the itinerary.
Is Dragon Bridge Open During the Vietnamese New Year?
Yes, Dragon Bridge stays open during Tet, and the fire and water show runs on extra nights over the holiday. For Tet 2026, the show ran every night from 13 to 22 February, and on New Year’s Eve the dragon sprayed only water at midnight. Tet week brings festival lighting along the Han River and the largest domestic crowds of the year.
Which Months Should You Avoid When Visiting Dragon Bridge Da Nang?
October and November are the months to avoid for Dragon Bridge, because they bring Da Nang’s heaviest rain and the highest storm risk. The show can be called off in bad weather, and because it is free there is nothing to refund or reschedule. Flights into Da Nang are also more likely to face delays in these months, so a Diwali-break trip is better planned around Phu Quoc or Hanoi.
Han River Cruise Da Nang
A Han River cruise in Da Nang costs about 130,000–150,000 VND (₹475–₹550) per adult on a standard sightseeing boat, and show-night sailings on Friday to Sunday wait near Dragon Bridge for the 9:00 PM fire show. Boats leave from the Han River port on Bach Dang Street, at the tail end of Dragon Bridge, and each cruise lasts 45–60 minutes. Dinner cruises and larger boats cost more. Weekend show-night sailings fill up, so booking 1–2 days ahead is safer.
A Han River cruise shows the full 666 m length of Dragon Bridge from the water, a view neither riverbank can give. On a show night, a sailing that leaves around 8:00 PM puts the boat on the river before the dragon starts, so there is no rush back to the bank for 9:00 PM. The trade-off is a fixed viewing angle from wherever the boat stops.
Is the Han River Cruise Worth It for Watching Dragon Bridge?
Yes, a Han River cruise is worth it on a show night, because it shows the full length of Dragon Bridge and the fire from the river without the riverside crowd. A show-night sailing that leaves around 8:00 PM covers both the cruise and the 9:00 PM show in one evening. From Monday to Thursday, a cruise still passes the LED-lit bridge, but without the fire.
Are There Vegetarian Food Options on Han River Cruise Boats?
No, most Han River cruise boats serve only snacks and drinks, with no dedicated vegetarian menu, no Jain-friendly options and no halal certification. Eating before boarding is the safer plan. Son Tra Night Market at the east end of Dragon Bridge and the Indian and vegetarian restaurants a short Grab ride away cover dinner before the cruise.
Seven more attractions sit within about 2 km of Dragon Bridge, close enough to pair with the 9:00 PM show.
7 Things to Do Near Dragon Bridge Da Nang Within 2 km
The 7 things to do within about 2 km of Dragon Bridge are Son Tra Night Market, Love Bridge, Han River Bridge, Han Market, Da Nang Cathedral, My Khe Beach and Helio Night Market. Most are a short walk or a 5–10 minute Grab ride from one end of the bridge, which makes them easy to combine with the fire show.
- Son Tra Night Market — At the eastern end of Dragon Bridge, on Mai Hac De and Ly Nam De streets, open from about 6:00 PM to midnight. It is the easiest pre-show dinner stop, a few minutes’ walk from the dragon’s head.
- Love Bridge and the Carp-Dragon statue — A riverside pier hung with padlocks, a short walk north of the dragon’s head on the east bank. For the padlock tradition and the best photo times, the guide to Love Bridge Da Nang helps plan a walk there after the show.
- Han River Bridge — The next crossing north, about 1 km along Bach Dang Street, opened in 2000 as Vietnam’s first swing bridge. The history of the swing span and the best viewpoints are covered in the guide to Han River Bridge, which makes a natural second stop on a riverside walk.
- Han Market — About 1 km north on the west bank, a daytime market for Vietnamese snacks, dried fruit and souvenirs. It suits a morning or afternoon visit before the show.
- Da Nang Cathedral (Pink Church) — A French-colonial church built in 1923 on Tran Phu Street, a short walk from Han Market and a popular daytime photo stop.
- My Khe Beach — About 2 km east of the bridge’s eastern end, 5–10 minutes by Grab, with a lit beachfront promenade for an evening walk.
- Helio Night Market — A large food and games market on 2 Thang 9 Street, a short Grab ride south of the bridge. It reopened after a renovation that began in September 2025 and suits a later dinner after the show.
Which Night Markets Are Closest to Dragon Bridge Da Nang?
Son Tra Night Market is the closest night market to Dragon Bridge, right at the bridge’s eastern end and open from about 6:00 PM to midnight. Helio Night Market on 2 Thang 9 Street is larger and sits a short Grab ride south. Son Tra Night Market suits a pre-show dinner from 6:00 PM, and Helio Night Market suits a later meal after the show.
Can You Walk from Dragon Bridge to My Khe Beach in Da Nang?
Yes, the walk from Dragon Bridge to My Khe Beach is about 2 km from the bridge’s eastern end and takes 25–30 minutes on foot. The route follows busy city roads with pavements. After the 9:00 PM show, a 5–10 minute Grab ride is the easier option, especially with children or late at night.
Dragon Bridge Da Nang vs. Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills
Dragon Bridge is a free night show in Da Nang city, while the Golden Bridge is a daytime visit at Ba Na Hills with a cable car ticket of 1,000,000 VND (₹3,665) per adult, so the two belong on different parts of the day. Visiting Dragon Bridge on a Friday or Saturday evening and Ba Na Hills the next morning gives each one its best light.
The two bridges are often mixed up because both appear in searches for Da Nang’s landmarks. For tickets, timings and the cable car route at Ba Na Hills, the guide to the Golden Bridge, the other Vietnam famous bridge near Da Nang, sets out the full day trip. On a rainy day at the summit, the same cable car ticket also covers the indoor Fantasy Park Danang, which keeps the day on track before an evening at Dragon Bridge.
Is Dragon Bridge or Golden Bridge Better for a First-Time Visitor to Da Nang?
Dragon Bridge is the better first experience in Da Nang, because it is free, central and takes only one evening. The 15-minute fire and water show makes a strong first-night impression at no cost. The Golden Bridge needs a full day and a 1,000,000 VND (₹3,665) cable car ticket. A first visit to Da Nang works well with Dragon Bridge on the first show night and the Golden Bridge on the following day.
Can You Visit Both Dragon Bridge and Ba Na Hills on the Same Day?
Yes, Ba Na Hills and Dragon Bridge fit into one day by leaving Ba Na Hills by about 4:30 PM, resting at the hotel and reaching the riverside by 8:30 PM for the 9:00 PM show. Ba Na Hills sits about 25 km from the city, a 45–60 minute drive. Since 1 January 2026, a Ba Na Hills cable car ticket is valid for 3 consecutive days, so the mountain visit can also be split across two mornings around a show night.
How Dragon Bridge Fits Into a 5-Day Da Nang Itinerary
Dragon Bridge fits the Saturday evening of a 5-day Da Nang and Hoi An itinerary, with the fire show on Day 1, Ba Na Hills on Day 2 and Hoi An from Day 3. Arriving on a Saturday puts the show on the first night without any clash with day trips.
The 5-day Da Nang and Hoi An itinerary that includes Dragon Bridge:
- Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival at Da Nang Airport by afternoon → hotel check-in → east bank on Tran Hung Dao Street for the 9:00 PM Dragon Bridge fire show.
- Day 2 (Sunday): Ba Na Hills full day (1,000,000 VND, ₹3,665 cable car ticket) → Golden Bridge → back in Da Nang by 5:00 PM.
- Day 3 (Monday): Transfer to Hoi An (45–60 minutes, about 387,000 VND or ₹1,420 by Grab) → Hoi An Ancient Town walk → lantern-lit evening on the Thu Bon River.
- Day 4 (Tuesday): My Son Sanctuary in the morning → Hoi An tailor shops in the afternoon → Hoi An Night Market in the evening.
- Day 5 (Wednesday): Hoi An morning → return to Da Nang Airport for the departure flight.
To fill the daytime around the show night, the list of places to visit in Danang helps choose sights such as the Marble Mountains for Days 2 to 5. Hotel areas, beaches and the wider city are covered in the travel guide to Da Nang Vietnam, which helps decide where to stay for an easy ride to the bridge.
Dragon Bridge and the riverside are busy and well lit on show nights, with crowds until about 10:30 PM. Solo travellers, including women travelling alone, can stay on the main riverside promenades and use the Grab app for the ride back rather than informal taxi offers near the bridge.
Vegetarian and Indian Food Options Near Dragon Bridge Da Nang
Da Nang has several Indian and vegetarian restaurants within a short Grab ride of Dragon Bridge, and Son Tra Night Market at the bridge’s eastern end has stalls where simple rice and noodle dishes can be ordered without meat. A sit-down meal before 8:00 PM leaves time to reach the riverside for the 9:00 PM show.
Jain meals take the most care in Da Nang, since garlic, shallots and fish sauce run through much Vietnamese cooking, so the request works best when it reaches the kitchen in advance. For a sit-down Indian dinner before or after the show, the guide to Indian restaurants in Da Nang lists the main Indian kitchens across the city.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dragon Bridge Da Nang
Is Dragon Bridge free to visit?
Yes, Dragon Bridge is free to visit and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No ticket is needed to walk across the bridge or to watch the fire show from either riverbank.
What time does Dragon Bridge breathe fire?
Dragon Bridge breathes fire at 9:00 PM every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and on major holidays. The fire comes first, and the whole fire and water show lasts about 15 minutes. These Dragon Bridge fire show timings stay the same all year, with extra nights added only for holidays.
How long is Dragon Bridge in Da Nang?
Dragon Bridge is 666 metres long across the Han River, 37.5 metres wide, with six traffic lanes.
Does Dragon Bridge have a water show, too?
Yes, the dragon sprays water for about 3 minutes after breathing fire. The fire comes first, in 2 rounds of 9 bursts, and the water closes the show.
Can you drive across Dragon Bridge Da Nang?
Yes, Dragon Bridge is open to motorbikes and cars 24 hours a day. Traffic stops on the bridge while the fire show runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Is Dragon Bridge better than Golden Bridge Vietnam?
Dragon Bridge and the Golden Bridge are different experiences rather than better or worse. Dragon Bridge is a free night attraction in Da Nang city. The Golden Bridge is a paid daytime walkway held up by two giant stone hands at Ba Na Hills, about 1,400 metres above sea level and about 25 km from Da Nang.
Does the Dragon Bridge fire show run every day?
No, the Dragon Bridge fire show runs only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM, plus major holidays. No show runs from Monday to Thursday.
Do You Need Tickets for the Dragon Bridge Fire Show?
No, the Dragon Bridge fire show needs no ticket and has no ticket price, because it is a free public show on a city bridge. Ticket prices shown for Dragon Bridge on Google and booking sites belong to Han River cruises and city tours, such as a show-night cruise at about 130,000–150,000 VND (₹475–₹550) per adult.
Why Is Dragon Bridge in Da Nang Famous?
Dragon Bridge is famous because it is the world’s largest dragon-shaped steel bridge and its dragon’s head breathes fire and water every weekend. The 666 m bridge takes the shape of a Ly dynasty dragon, the royal house that ruled Vietnam from 1009 to 1225, and more than 2,500 LED lights change colour along it after dark. Dragon Bridge opened on 29 March 2013, the 38th anniversary of Da Nang’s liberation, and was designed by Ammann & Whitney with Louis Berger.
Is Dragon Bridge Da Nang Worth Visiting?
Yes, Dragon Bridge Da Nang is worth visiting on any Central Vietnam trip, because entry is free and the fire and water show runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM. Few attractions in Da Nang give the same visual impact at no cost. Hoi An’s lantern-lit Ancient Town sits 45–60 minutes away, so Dragon Bridge on a Saturday and Hoi An the following night make two free night experiences on consecutive evenings.
Lit-up bridges are a theme across Vietnam’s cities. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Starlight Bridge in the Phu My Hung area glows with coloured lights after dark, which makes it an easy evening stop on the southern leg of the same trip.
Plan a Da Nang Trip Around the Dragon Bridge Fire Show
A Da Nang trip that includes the Dragon Bridge fire show needs at least one Friday, Saturday or Sunday night in the city, with the evening planned around the 9:00 PM start. The tricky parts are fitting the show night between Ba Na Hills and Hoi An, timing the drive from Hoi An, and finding a vegetarian or Jain dinner before the show. Vietnamtour.in has planned Vietnam trips for more than 428,000 Indian travellers since 2015, and its ready-made routes through Da Nang and Hoi An are listed among the Vietnam land packages for comparing trip lengths before choosing dates.
To build a Da Nang stay around the Dragon Bridge fire show, share the travel dates, group size and departure city in the form below. A Vietnamtour.in expert will match the show night to the right day, with private transfers from Hoi An and vegetarian or Jain dinners booked before the Dragon Bridge fire show.
